A historic sports event in Southern Jutland
DGI National Convention 2029 in the Sonderborg area
Sports and history meet in a sustainable DGI National Convention in 2029 in Sonderborg.
Denmark's largest sports festival will form the framework for four festive summer days in 2029 filled with sports, experiences and communities.
There will be running, football, mountain biking and gymnastics and a host of other sports activities, shows and workshops, and everyone over the age of 15 can participate.
The opening ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 5, and the closing ceremony will be on Sunday, July 8, 2029.
What can you expect when the DGI National Convention comes to Sonderborg?
Every four years, thousands of Danes flock to a new host city that can present a wealth of sports activities, community, celebration and colors. In 2029, Sonderborg is the host city for the DGI National Convention.
Over four days, Sonderborg City will be the center of Denmark's largest sports festival with more than 22.000 participants, thousands of volunteers and visitors. The event center will be Sonderborg Stadium and the Ringriderpladsen.
The entire city of Sonderborg will be the scene for the many sports, but also a huge public festival with concerts, shows, party tents, food areas and various activities in squares and parks.
In addition to the participants, the National Convention is expected to attract around 60.000 guests over the four days.
Facts about the DGI National Convention
- The National Competition is Denmark's largest sports festival with more than 30 different sports.
- The national competition was held for the first time in 1861, so when the DGI National Competition hits Sonderborg in 2029, it will be the 30th in a series of national competitions.
- The last time Sonderborg hosted the national convention was in 1928 with over 8000 participants in the Royal Redoubt in Dybbøl.
- The National Convention is organized by DGI, in close collaboration with the host municipality and local associations. The host municipality is responsible for the framework surrounding the National Convention, while DGI is responsible for the content.
- The National Convention requires approximately 4.000 volunteers who earn money for their associations.
- There are approximately 125 'Come and try' activities during the National Convention to choose from.
News about the National Convention 2029
Curious about the DGI National Convention? Meet Sonderborg Municipality and DGI at the Culture and Sports Night
02.09.26
For the second year in a row, DGI Sønderjylland is participating with a DGI area during the Culture and Sports Night on Friday, September 4, at 17-21 p.m. DGI Sønderjylland, together with local sports associations, invites you to an active DGI area where everyone can join.
You can watch performances, meet local sports clubs and try your hand at various activities such as tennis, basketball, wheelchair rugby, taekwondo, gymnastics and line dancing.
Sonderborg Municipality is also represented by the municipality's project manager for the DGI National Convention, Peter Nielsen. Come by and hear more about the planning ahead for the big national convention in Sonderborg and have a chat about how you can join the National Convention 2029 as a participant, volunteer or association.
The entire evening will focus on movement, community and experiences, which is also the framework for the DGI National Convention. Several of the activities will take place continuously throughout the evening as 'come and see - and try for yourself activities'. There will also be features during the evening such as line dancing and gymnastics.
Find the DGI area at Nørre Havnegade 1.
Large events change dates
13.08.26
When Sonderborg is the host city for the DGI National Convention 2029, it will be on the dates Thursday, July 5 to Sunday, July 8. It is the same weekend as the Ringrider Festival in Sonderborg – therefore, Sonderborg Municipality, in collaboration with the ringrider association, has chosen to move the ringrider festival one week further into July to create the best opportunities for the two events.
The dates are now in place for the National Convention, which will take place the second weekend in July: Thursday, July 5 to Sunday, July 8, 2029.
Traditionally, the Ringriderfest in Sonderborg also takes place on the second weekend in July. To avoid the two events falling on the same weekend, Sonderborg Municipality and the Ringriderfest in Sonderborg have jointly chosen to move the Ringriderfest one week later, so that it will take place from Friday, July 13 to Monday, July 16, 2029.
This is traditionally the Gråsten Ringriding weekend. Therefore, it has been agreed with the Ringrider Association in Gråsten that the ringriding party will be moved up to the same weekend as the National Competition.
Sonderborg Municipality thanks the ringrider associations for good and positive cooperation, so that everyone in Sonderborg Municipality, the organizers, the citizens, the tourists, the shops and the restaurants can get the best out of the events.
Bicycle tour shines light on DGI National Convention 2029
29.04.26
Employees from Sonderborg Municipality and DGI took a seven-hour bike ride on Wednesday to inspect possible locations for the DGI National Convention.
Sonderborg City presented itself in the best possible way – namely in full sunshine, when Sonderborg Municipality was visited by representatives from DGI. The purpose of the day was to review selected facilities and locations that can be used during the DGI National Convention in the summer of 2029.
The group looked at areas for a possible convention center, activity spots, gathering places, green areas, and places for outdoor gymnastics floors, among other things. It is expected that Sonderborg Municipality and DGI will have the basic structure in place with the largest and most important areas of activity before the end of the year.
Sonderborg Municipality hires project manager for DGI National Convention 2029
10.04.26
Sonderborg Municipality has hired Peter Nielsen as project manager for Sonderborg Municipality's part of the DGI National Convention 2029.
In the summer of 2029, Sonderborg will be the center of Denmark's largest sports festival with more than 22.000 participants, thousands of volunteers and visitors. It will be Peter Nielsen from Sonderborg, who from May 1, 2026, will be in charge of Sonderborg Municipality's work with the National Convention.
Peter Nielsen has built up solid experience in project management, working with volunteers and implementing events throughout his working life. He has worked as a project manager at PULS Human Relations and for educational institutions, has been a talent manager and coach at SønderjyskE Men's Handball and has been a co-organizer of international handball finals in Denmark and organizer of the Danish Adventure Race Championship.
Peter Nielsen will be given overall responsibility for Sonderborg Municipality's planning and running of the National Convention in close collaboration with DGI.
His first task will be to prepare a concrete agreement between Sonderborg Municipality and DGI. The agreement will determine the finances, organization, milestones and strategic goals for the National Convention 2029.
